Related
Hi there friends!
I'm live in Germany and the MT4GS is my favorite Android phone to date (have a HTC Dream right now ) and found a very good ebay deal, however I will purchase a locked device. (The MT4GS is not available for purchase in Germany)
So what exactly is the worst thing to happen when I receive it in Germany? Will it just say "enter code, because your not in the statez!" and do nothing? Or will everything work, it just won't accept my SIM-Card or not connect to the network?
I'm going to then get root and s-off if I need and try the kindly posted methods by you great guys for unlocking a rooted device. Feedback if someone successfully did it would be great, but of course I can have a look at the threads too.
Is there any other thing I might run into? Did I overlook something? It'll probably be difficult to return it if things don't work out.
Thanks so much for feedback and help!
Unrelashade
if you actually put a sim card in and start it up, it'll ask for an unlock code and you won't be able to do anything else (except make an emergency call of course). if you boot it with no sim card it'll work fine with no cell connection.
you can root it and do the trick to get the unlock code, all without inserting a SIM, then shut it down, insert a SIM card, and enter the unlock code to unlock it. I did that, it worked fine. Had to mess about a little bit with shuttling apk's onto an SD card to get the necessary tools to do the rooting installed, but it wasn't too tricky. Took me an hour or so. I wouldn't expect you'll have too much trouble.
What Adam said.
Just get S-OFF and use one of the SIM unlocking methods provided on the forum.
Expect to pay high taxes though...
Thank you guys! So happy you are here for us )
Yeah I know, taxes. But it's still freakin' cheap for a new dualcore phone. With qwerty. yay. Thanks for the warning!
Which method did you use to unlock?
Will come back here if any problems will occur.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=16932841&postcount=1
Sent from my RubiX NonSense FINAL using Tapatalk
The one that's linked from the sticky. I advise installing the 'bad' CWM though, contrary to what the guide says, because the manual flash method is a bit of a pain, and now ROM Manager supports our phone, it's trivial to update to a fixed CWM via rom manager after rooting.
Ok, thank you again!
I just noticed, some websites say the MT4GS comes with Android 2.3 preinstalled. If they already put the new firmware on it before shipping then I'll have no chance of rooting and s-off'ing as of now, right? It's probably a mistake because it's upgradable... but still wanted to ask you guys.
shadow, do you know what taxes exactly? Will I have to pay "Mehrwertsteuer"/ sales tax/ added value tax as well as "Zoll"/ tarif tax? And how much % for the latter?
Reply would be most helpful
Unrelashade said:
Ok, thank you again!
I just noticed, some websites say the MT4GS comes with Android 2.3 preinstalled. If they already put the new firmware on it before shipping then I'll have no chance of rooting and s-off'ing as of now, right? It's probably a mistake because it's upgradable... but still wanted to ask you guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct, atleast until a new exploit is found or htc fixes its bootloader unlocking procedure
Yeah, if you get one with new firmware you're SOL. Maybe buy an actual second hnad one and check with the seller they didn't do the OTA update.
I just received an OTA update for My Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. My phone seized up and I had to take it into Best Buy in order to get the firmware re-installed so my phone would actually work! That was blissful... So now I am now running Android 4.4.2 KitKat! YAY! But not really.
When I got this phone, it was loaded with Android 4.3 Firmware, and for the first time in my life, I have not been able to Root my phone. I looked through all the methods out there, but none of them worked. Some people claim this one and that one, but for me, I couldn't get it to do a darn thing. Well, no big deal, it's not like I really need to root my phone.
Except that you do. YOU NEED TO ROOT YOUR AT&T PHONES!
I noticed that the OS on this 32g model uses an unprecedented 7g of space!!! That's aside from the apps that come with the phone that I will never use. Leaving me with only 21g of space on my phone, which claims to be a 32g model. Again, this is not a big deal, right? You can throw an SD card in there if you need more space...
FINE
Now comes the issue of the AT&T and Samsung Exclusive Applications that are loaded on to the phone when you get it, and ARE IRREMOVABLE! These apps are here to stay. It doesn't matter if you don't use them, or like them, or want your disc space back, screw you AT&T customer, you HAVE to have these apps.
The sickening part about all of this is the mandatory obligation you are put under when getting your new phone. No one tells you that AT&T is going to shove all of this crap down your throat. And it wouldn't be so bad if these apps were removable... it wouldn't be so bad if you could root your phone an remove them yourself... it wouldn't be so bad if you could a custom firmware on the device you just dropped $700 on... I mean, it is your phone, isn't it?
But Samsung & AT&T have gone so far out of their way locking this device down to a point where it is next to impossible to unlock and do anything with!!! Is it really that big of a problem? Someone always seems to find a way around it eventually, so why do it?
Regardless, It looks like I should have bought the Nexus 5, that way my OS wouldn't take up 7g of my 32g of space, and I wouldn't have a bunch of bloatware filling up my phone. I'd love to hear that someone has found a way to root this new NB1 baseband, and allow for custom firmware installation, because I'd like to take this phone back to AT&T and shove it down their throat.
Shibblet said:
I just received an OTA update for My Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. My phone seized up and I had to take it into Best Buy in order to get the firmware re-installed so my phone would actually work! That was blissful... So now I am now running Android 4.4.2 KitKat! YAY! But not really.
When I got this phone, it was loaded with Android 4.3 Firmware, and for the first time in my life, I have not been able to Root my phone. I looked through all the methods out there, but none of them worked. Some people claim this one and that one, but for me, I couldn't get it to do a darn thing. Well, no big deal, it's not like I really need to root my phone.
Except that you do. YOU NEED TO ROOT YOUR AT&T PHONES!
I noticed that the OS on this 32g model uses an unprecedented 7g of space!!! That's aside from the apps that come with the phone that I will never use. Leaving me with only 21g of space on my phone, which claims to be a 32g model. Again, this is not a big deal, right? You can throw an SD card in there if you need more space...
FINE
Now comes the issue of the AT&T and Samsung Exclusive Applications that are loaded on to the phone when you get it, and ARE IRREMOVABLE! These apps are here to stay. It doesn't matter if you don't use them, or like them, or want your disc space back, screw you AT&T customer, you HAVE to have these apps.
The sickening part about all of this is the mandatory obligation you are put under when getting your new phone. No one tells you that AT&T is going to shove all of this crap down your throat. And it wouldn't be so bad if these apps were removable... it wouldn't be so bad if you could root your phone an remove them yourself... it wouldn't be so bad if you could a custom firmware on the device you just dropped $700 on... I mean, it is your phone, isn't it?
But Samsung & AT&T have gone so far out of their way locking this device down to a point where it is next to impossible to unlock and do anything with!!! Is it really that big of a problem? Someone always seems to find a way around it eventually, so why do it?
Regardless, It looks like I should have bought the Nexus 5, that way my OS wouldn't take up 7g of my 32g of space, and I wouldn't have a bunch of bloatware filling up my phone. I'd love to hear that someone has found a way to root this new NB1 baseband, and allow for custom firmware installation, because I'd like to take this phone back to AT&T and shove it down their throat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Switch carrier, or be grateful that you have this powerful smartphone. xD
Moderator Edit - Profanity Removed , that is well known. But the majority of AT&T clients don't know what root is, even, and locking bootloaders is business oriented.
"Oh, you want an unlocked bootloader? Why not get our Google edition S4?"
I'm from Bulgaria, and a friend of mine was on a student brigade in USA, and he got an S4, which I bought from him.
Little did I know it was from AT&T...
I am running Kitkat on it right now.
Bootloader locked, no root yet.
But root will be found, and in time the devs are gonna come up with some really sick ROMs.
Be patient, and when the devs do their magic, don't forget to thank them.
sirobelec said:
Switch carrier, or be grateful that you have this powerful smartphone. xD
Moderator Edit - Profanity Removed
"Oh, you want an unlocked bootloader? Why not get our Google edition S4?"
I'm from Bulgaria, and a friend of mine was on a student brigade in USA, and he got an S4, which I bought from him.
Little did I know it was from AT&T...
I am running Kitkat on it right now.
Bootloader locked, no root yet.
But root will be found, and in time the devs are gonna come up with some really sick ROMs.
Be patient, and when the devs do their magic, don't forget to thank them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an absolute.
I was running a GS2, with ShoStock3 on it. That rom worked great, stable, smooth, no issues. My son is using that phone now, and he still has had no problems running it.
I guess my biggest problem with AT&T is what they do to a perfectly good piece of hardware. Add all their little apps to it, lock the bootloader, lock the carrier, and bloat the OS to 7 times it's original size (Not an exaggeration). I guess I'm a minimalist. The OS doesn't need to be any larger than it has to. AOSP Roms prove that. 500meg footprint instead of 7gigs!
BTW, the newest upgrade put Beats Music on my phone, and I can't remove it.
Shibblet said:
That's an absolute.
I was running a GS2, with ShoStock3 on it. That rom worked great, stable, smooth, no issues. My son is using that phone now, and he still has had no problems running it.
I guess my biggest problem with AT&T is what they do to a perfectly good piece of hardware. Add all their little apps to it, lock the bootloader, lock the carrier, and bloat the OS to 7 times it's original size (Not an exaggeration). I guess I'm a minimalist. The OS doesn't need to be any larger than it has to. AOSP Roms prove that. 500meg footprint instead of 7gigs!
BTW, the newest upgrade put Beats Music on my phone, and I can't remove it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good sir, can you tell me why AT&T have clients at all? Their devices and fees cheap?
sirobelec said:
Good sir, can you tell me why AT&T have clients at all? Their devices and fees cheap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Their coverage area in Alaska is great. Their customer service and prices are good too. There are not a lot of options for service in the area that I am in, so I tend to go with AT&T, because when I do go out of state, I have usage where I go with no roaming fees and the like. We do not have T-Mobile or Verizon available in Alaska, unless you sign up out of state.
Could be worse. They could put the entire beats audio apk on the phone instead of it just taking up 8k since it links to the play store. While I do agree the os is over bloated at least we can disable apps we don't use and speed it up some.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
1. you can disable any at&t and most Samsung bloat app via the app manager.
2. all bloat combined adds up to a few hundred megabytes, barely making a dent. its the features that differentiate the s4 from lesser devices that take up this extra space. motion controls, smart screen, air controls... these are what take up the space.
3. who keeps data on the device anyway? devices break, devices brick, etc... SD cards are fairly robust and can be removed in the event of a failed device. my music, photos, downloads, etc is on my 32 GB SD card. cloud sync'd data is on internal to save space on the card but that's stored elsewhere anyway.
I love root for one very simple reason: AdAway. I used to just flash new roms immediately upon getting a phone but vanilla is boring. OE stuff is getting pretty good. I used to automatically install Titanium backup and freeze everything that way but the app manager allows us to do this now.
Actually, can we have a thread, for example this one, for general ranting, complaining, hate and such (NONE of it towards fellow xda members)?
I mean, ranting over stuff we can't do much about. AT&T politics, bloatware, etc. Call it stress relief.
And rehab sessions for flashaholics who updated to this locked Kitkat, but now their booze is taken away.
Shibblet said:
I just received an OTA update for My Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. My phone seized up and I had to take it into Best Buy in order to get the firmware re-installed so my phone would actually work! That was blissful... So now I am now running Android 4.4.2 KitKat! YAY! But not really.
When I got this phone, it was loaded with Android 4.3 Firmware, and for the first time in my life, I have not been able to Root my phone. I looked through all the methods out there, but none of them worked. Some people claim this one and that one, but for me, I couldn't get it to do a darn thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you mean you were also unable to root 4.3 mk2? I have rooted.a dozen or so mk2 devices for people with safe root.
If you meant kit kat. Then it was just released be patient.
Bloat ware can be removed once the root is obtained.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I feel your pain......
CAG-man said:
Did you mean you were also unable to root 4.3 mk2? I have rooted.a dozen or so mk2 devices for people with safe root.
If you meant kit kat. Then it was just released be patient.
Bloat ware can be removed once the root is obtained.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a safe root method for 4.3. It's the same as the method for Verizon. My 4.3 S4 is rooted right now. However, I'll only have this thing for about another week. I am fed up with Samsung and AT&T. I still have AT&T grandfathered unlimited data, and that's the only reason I'm still with them. This is my first Android phone and it is FAR from the open experience I expected coming from iPhone (jailbroken of course). Jailbreak was easier than initially rooting this model S4. Then I learned of the locked bootloader.........Knox was the final straw. Samsung can keep their forced security BS. I ordered a 32 GB Nexus 5 yesterday and am jumping off the Samsung ship. Love the hardware, hate that I can do anything I would like to with my device. And no offense to Devs working on it, but I've never waited as long for an iPhone jailbreak to happen on iOS as the bootloader unlock on this thing is taking for somebody to figure out. I'm not sure if it will happen, so I'm not going to worry about it. From here on out, it's only unlocked open phones for me. If I'm up for contract renewal, I'll get the most popular phone at the time from my carrier, sell it, and buy a Nexus/ Google Play Edition device. Camera maybe better on S4, but that's not my primary use anyway. Nexus 5 camera is good enough for me. And I don't have to buy additional parts to get Qi wireless charging.
I think Samsung wants to move to Tizen eventually anyway........so they have full control of EVERYTHING......just like Apple. Not for me.
- Jeremy
Shibblet said:
I just received an OTA update for My Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. My phone seized up and I had to take it into Best Buy in order to get the firmware re-installed so my phone would actually work! That was blissful... So now I am now running Android 4.4.2 KitKat! YAY! But not really.
When I got this phone, it was loaded with Android 4.3 Firmware, and for the first time in my life, I have not been able to Root my phone. I looked through all the methods out there, but none of them worked. Some people claim this one and that one, but for me, I couldn't get it to do a darn thing. Well, no big deal, it's not like I really need to root my phone.
Except that you do. YOU NEED TO ROOT YOUR AT&T PHONES!
I noticed that the OS on this 32g model uses an unprecedented 7g of space!!! That's aside from the apps that come with the phone that I will never use. Leaving me with only 21g of space on my phone, which claims to be a 32g model. Again, this is not a big deal, right? You can throw an SD card in there if you need more space...
FINE
Now comes the issue of the AT&T and Samsung Exclusive Applications that are loaded on to the phone when you get it, and ARE IRREMOVABLE! These apps are here to stay. It doesn't matter if you don't use them, or like them, or want your disc space back, screw you AT&T customer, you HAVE to have these apps.
The sickening part about all of this is the mandatory obligation you are put under when getting your new phone. No one tells you that AT&T is going to shove all of this crap down your throat. And it wouldn't be so bad if these apps were removable... it wouldn't be so bad if you could root your phone an remove them yourself... it wouldn't be so bad if you could a custom firmware on the device you just dropped $700 on... I mean, it is your phone, isn't it?
But Samsung & AT&T have gone so far out of their way locking this device down to a point where it is next to impossible to unlock and do anything with!!! Is it really that big of a problem? Someone always seems to find a way around it eventually, so why do it?
Regardless, It looks like I should have bought the Nexus 5, that way my OS wouldn't take up 7g of my 32g of space, and I wouldn't have a bunch of bloatware filling up my phone. I'd love to hear that someone has found a way to root this new NB1 baseband, and allow for custom firmware installation, because I'd like to take this phone back to AT&T and shove it down their throat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even when we do get to root the phone, you will not be able to reclaim any of that space.
Sorry.
It's not the OS...
joeybear23 said:
Even when we do get to root the phone, you will not be able to reclaim any of that space.
Sorry.
It's not the OS...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's lame... but can you explain why? Is this area set aside as a cache or something?
Also, I have searched for the answer, but I can't figure out why they would go through the trouble of locking the bootloader and kernel down with a chastity belt. Any idea why they did that too? I'm just a firm believer that "rooters gonna root" regardless of how difficult they make it.
It just makes me think of things in terms of games like Oblivion and Skyrim where the developers don't really care how many mods people make for their game, they don't lock it down and keep people from doing it.
Shibblet said:
That's lame... but can you explain why? Is this area set aside as a cache or something?
Also, I have searched for the answer, but I can't figure out why they would go through the trouble of locking the bootloader and kernel down with a chastity belt. Any idea why they did that too? I'm just a firm believer that "rooters gonna root" regardless of how difficult they make it.
It just makes me think of things in terms of games like Oblivion and Skyrim where the developers don't really care how many mods people make for their game, they don't lock it down and keep people from doing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The space is locked down for use by the ROM, and it is just written that way for the device, and devs have not been able to unlock it.
As for locking the bootloader, I am sure ATT is sick of eating up the expense of replacing phones as "defective" due to user ignorance. People brick phones left and right and then turn it back over to ATT and have to give a new phone in exchange. ATT can certainly repair them and reflash them, however they can only then be sold as refurbished units which hits them financially, not to mention the man-hours needed for reflashing them. Each device maybe takes a few minutes, but multiply that by thousands of returned devices and it is a compelling case for keeping future users from doing the same.
I have rooted every Android i've owned, so don't get me wrong... but if I break the thing I wouldn't be one of those trying to make ATT pay for it.
"As of 7 June 2013, the 2000th Aventador, an Aventador LP 700-4 with Nero Nemesis (black) body colour, was built and destined for the United States owner Thaddeus Arroyo, Chief Intelligence Officer of AT&T."
- via Wikipedia.
sirobelec said:
Switch carrier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a heads up on this note..
It appears that the Galaxy S5 will have a locked bootloader not just on Verizon (the original basturds) and AT&T (the follow-up basturds), but also T-Mobile now (the new basturds).
Supposedly, only Sprint will have the "unlocked bootloader". Though they will likely still have KNOX.
So if anyone wants an S5 and AOSP, they need to go with Sprint or wait and pay full price for the Google Play Edition.
It does not change ver. from 4.1.2
what does this updatedo?
What does this update do? Does it affect my root? Thanks!
It is notifying me too. Since I have twrp and root on stock jelly bean, how can I update if helpful, or turn off update notification?
Chad
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA Free mobile app
AFwarbird said:
It is notifying me too. Since I have twrp and root on stock jelly bean, how can I update if helpful, or turn off update notification?
Chad
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Started getting the notification yesterday, but I'm also on stock Jelly Bean 4.1.2 and TWRP. I was able to stop the notifications by freezing "AT&T Sofware Update" with Titanium Backup, but I'd also like to know if there's anything here worth the trouble of trying to get it installed.
I just had a chat session with a Samsung official, and she said it's news to them. I told her that I am on I727UCMC1, and she said that my device is up to date. The small update AT&T is pushing must be something to do with AT&T.
Unless it updates my camera features, I'm not even bothering with it, and will keep AT&T Update frozen.
I'm pretty sure I'd have to backup everything, revert to stock UCMC1, cross my fingers and toes that it still doesn't brick my phone, and hope it still can be rooted the way I did before.
It sure would be nice if there was some sort of explanation as to what is being updated. I have looked all over and not found anything anywhere else that mentions this update to I727UCNJ1. I got the number from this an at&t website I would post the link but can't. It is only 12mb so probably not worth a bunch of trouble but I wish I knew what it is trying to update.
Paranoid?
Me too. Mine is original stock, but I upgraded the Android OS last year to 4.1.2 via Samsung Kies. However, mine is unlocked, and I can't help but be suspicious that AT&T is "updating" to do something that is to their benefit and not ours (i.e. relocking the phone?, spyware, etc.?), so it would be nice to have some details of what/why this unexpected update, before blindly agreeing to it. So, if anyone know what this update is all about, please share with us. Thanks very much!
My money's on an update that locks the phone down. What else would AT&T possibly do with a three-year-old platform that isn't making them any new money at this point?
I chatted with an AT&T representative yesterday, and all I could get out of her was that the update had to do with new features to the O/S. That's all the information that she could find, and couldn't tell me any specifics about what features were being updated.
I am about to go to an S5 or S5 Active soon, and I might just revert to stock to check it out.
It's pretty fishy though that neither Samsung, or AT&T has, or wants to divulge in any, information on exactly what it's going to do.
---------- Post added at 07:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:26 PM ----------
As far as it locking your device back down, I have yet to flash, or install anything that has re-locked my phone. I guess it's possible. The only thing I'm worried about is losing root, and not being able to get it back with the last way that's available.
I see it's now listed on the AT&T eSupport website No details, just "Android OS Enhancements".
I don't have enough posts on this forum to be permitted to publish a link, but you can find it by Googling "AT&T Update to Skyrocket", and the eSupport link should be near the top of the results.
AT&T is taking the same tack as Verizon, and locking everything down. Even the mid to low end phones. So, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a way to lock older phones.
On the other hand, it really may be final bug fixes - a sort of final service pack. I wish I trusted them to give it a try.
I reverted back to stock I727UCMC1 using Odin v1.85, updated OTA to I727UCNJ1, flashed TWRP custom recovery, got root back, but I am not sure if I am still unlocked or not. I tried *#7465625# on the dialer, but the code does nothing.
Anyone know of another code to check the unlock status?
Thanks very much for your feedback. I've always just put a SIM card from another carrier into my phone. Even if it is not an active SIM, your phone should still tell you whether or not it is locked.
24fan4life said:
I reverted back to stock I727UCMC1 using Odin v1.85, updated OTA to I727UCNJ1, flashed TWRP custom recovery, got root back, but I am not sure if I am still unlocked or not. I tried *#7465625# on the dialer, but the code does nothing.
Anyone know of another code to check the unlock status?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unless u restored a previous efs partition that was locked to a carrier then u will remain unlocked, afaik no one lost their unlocked sim by restoring or flashing any firmwares, to read more about the sim lock or to unlock the sim read this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2638037
as for firmwares locking down the phone its referring to the way root is acheived not to the sim carrier lock
T.J. Bender said:
My money's on an update that locks the phone down. What else would AT&T possibly do with a three-year-old platform that isn't making them any new money at this point?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hope you are joking, because if not then then you're insane. no offense intended.
Not so insane, I'm afraid. AT&T has started a war on unlocked bootloaders lately. The CEO has officially come out as saying they don't want unlocked devices on their network, and have followed up by sending out OTA updates that lock down devices. Several devices started out unlocked, like the S2, and became locked by OTA updates. The S3, Note 2, etc.
IOW, I wouldn't put it past them, especially if Samsung wasn't aware of the update. On the flip side, the S2 is no longer even for sale, and I have to wonder how many are left in active service.
Clarification?
lingowistico said:
i hope you are joking, because if not then then you're insane. no offense intended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that was very helpful! Seriously though, as a senior member of this forum, perhaps you might have some constructive comments on this subject? After all, we're sitting here with phones (the I-727 SII Skyrocket is an oldie, but goodie!) that are trying to push an unanticipated OTA update on us, in a very suspicious manner. We hope it's just a bug fix, but don't trust the carrier (AT&T) to be doing this, unless they have some ulterior motive. The benefit of your substantial experience would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer us.
Regards,
Ron M.
jshamlet said:
Not so insane, I'm afraid. AT&T has started a war on unlocked bootloaders lately. The CEO has officially come out as saying they don't want unlocked devices on their network, and have followed up by sending out OTA updates that lock down devices. Several devices started out unlocked, like the S2, and became locked by OTA updates. The S3, Note 2, etc.
IOW, I wouldn't put it past them, especially if Samsung wasn't aware of the update. On the flip side, the S2 is no longer even for sale, and I have to wonder how many are left in active service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your insight, it was TRULY helpful! As a relative newbie, I just want to clarify our terms. When you use the term "unlocked", I deduce you are referring to a phone that has been rooted and is running a different platform - is that correct? In my case, I am NOT rooted and simply running the original crappy stock platform, but my phone is "unlocked" in the traditional sense, in that I can use it with different sims from different carriers throughout the world, rather than being "locked" to AT&T. So, for those of us who are not as technically advanced, could you please clarify? For me, if this OTA update doesn't prevent me from continuing to use other sims from other carriers, then I don't know what the downside would be, unless they're just adding more spyware and bloatware to their already intrusive system? I look forward to your comments.
Regards,
Ron M.
jshamlet said:
Not so insane, I'm afraid. AT&T has started a war on unlocked bootloaders lately. The CEO has officially come out as saying they don't want unlocked devices on their network, and have followed up by sending out OTA updates that lock down devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought T.J. Bender was talking about simlock since he didn't mention the bootloader. :silly:
At&t sure isn't making life easy for you.. I'd still be proudly rocking a skyrocket too if I didn't lose it :angel:
I only messed with my Skyrocket for an hour or so after accepting the OTA update, before starting up my new S 5 Active.
The only thing that I really noticed, was they took the AT&T phone setup app off of it, since it is no longer in use by AT&T. There may have been more that I didn't notice, but only running it a couple hours, I couldn't tell. I even checked the camera thinking they might have finally snuck some new features into it, but no dice.
lingowistico said:
i hope you are joking, because if not then then you're insane. no offense intended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does suggesting that AT&T would lock a bootloader make me insane?
Sent from my totally badass HTC One m8 using Tapatalk
Having never had a Samsung device before, I might be turning to the S6 Edge once it's released to replace my ageing Nexus 5 but I have a few questions that can put me off and was wondering if you guys can clarify them for me.
1) Does the 'international' version come with a locked or unlocked bootloader (i.e. if I were to buy it off of Amazon UK). If locked, how easy is it to unlock the bootloader on previous Samsung phones? This probably also voids warranty unlike the Nexus and HTC right?
2) How easy has it been to root Samsung phones in the past?
3) What does having an Exynos processor mean (in terms of modding)? Will that make it harder to root? harder to unlock bootloader? Not being able to Install Stock Vanilla Android ROM?
4) Finally, I've played around with a couple of friend's Samsungs (Note 3,4, S5,S4) and I absolutely hate TouchWiz.. It just looks ugly. How easy is it to get rid of it all together, including sounds, menus, etc. (either by installing Stock Android ROM) or by removing these components from TouchWiz ROM?
5) To sum up. Ideally I'd like to have Vanilla Android Lollipop with an unlocked bootloader and root, and customize as I like; do you think this would be possible? What would the tradeoffs?
I hope my questions are clear! If they aren't please let me know to clarify them further.
ombadboy said:
Having never had a Samsung device before, I might be turning to the S6 Edge once it's released to replace my ageing Nexus 5 but I have a few questions that can put me off and was wondering if you guys can clarify them for me.
1) Does the 'international' version come with a locked or unlocked bootloader (i.e. if I were to buy it off of Amazon UK). If locked, how easy is it to unlock the bootloader on previous Samsung phones? This probably also voids warranty unlike the Nexus and HTC right?
2) How easy has it been to root Samsung phones in the past?
3) What does having an Exynos processor mean (in terms of modding)? Will that make it harder to root? harder to unlock bootloader? Not being able to Install Stock Vanilla Android ROM?
4) Finally, I've played around with a couple of friend's Samsungs (Note 3,4, S5,S4) and I absolutely hate TouchWiz.. It just looks ugly. How easy is it to get rid of it all together, including sounds, menus, etc. (either by installing Stock Android ROM) or by removing these components from TouchWiz ROM?
5) To sum up. Ideally I'd like to have Vanilla Android Lollipop with an unlocked bootloader and root, and customize as I like; do you think this would be possible? What would the tradeoffs?
I hope my questions are clear! If they aren't please let me know to clarify them further.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. We don't really know yet. As far as I know all previous international models of the Galaxy S phones had unlocked bootloaders.
2. With my S2 and S4 it has been really easy to root. I don't expect real problems here.
3. Here's where it gets tricky. Exynos processors made it harder to create AOSP roms due to the closed-source nature of the kernel. I expect there to be no change there.
4. Well, custom roms may be able to help here. They may be able to tweak the UI, remove bloatware or even change the whole UI. Perhaps a stable AOSP port will be created, it's too early to tell yet.
5. If you want an AOSP rom, I'm not sure if the S6 is what you're looking for. A Nexus device would be ideal or you can look at the HTC One M9. If you can live with a Touchwiz based rom, you shouldn't have any problems here.
This is just my view on this all. There may be others who can shed some light on it.
From what I understood, rooting your Samsung allows you to remove quite alot of the TouchWiz bloat. Is it possible to also get rid of the UI they stick ontop of Stock Android or is that baked in?
ombadboy said:
From what I understood, rooting your Samsung allows you to remove quite alot of the TouchWiz bloat. Is it possible to also get rid of the UI they stick ontop of Stock Android or is that baked in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there is a difference between Touchwiz and the pre-installed applications. Touchwiz is the whole look&feel with the modified applications. This means a modded email client, dialer, contacts app, settings, launcher, power menu, etc.
While you can remove some applications while rooted (for example the Samsung Store), you can't modify the looks like the power menu, settings, top bar with the clock, etc.. This is baked into the rom itself.
Regarding the email, dialer, launcher and contacts apps, you can download and use third-party apps for that. This will make it look at lot better, but it won't fix everything.
I guess now that Xposed has been released for Lollipop ART as soon as Rovo manages to fix it for Samsung ROMs, that will also allow changing the UI on the TouchWiz ROM substantially right?
well, i hate samsung when will get modify the handset
if someone will succeed root samsung device, it must be can't claim on samsung service centre
well, i just have old exynos from S4/S5, we don't know yet S6 comes with exynos 14nm
hope developers will make it later
Samsung added themes to the s6
Samsung added themes in the s6 so you can change the look and feel of the device.
ww.androidcentral.com/galaxy-s6-themes-let-you-take-control-touchwiz
Rooting Galaxy S6
Hey all,
I am new to posting on XDA. I've seen similar post throughout XDA but nothing that really answers my questions. I recently purchased the S6 and I'd like to root it. I don't want to install custom ROMs all I want is root access for mods that might require that. I have the international variant SM-G920F.
I don't really care about being able to pay using my phone.
1) Most posts claim that I won't be able to update over the air (OTA), is that true? If so is there any luck that this will change in the near future?
2) What root method do you suggest? In terms of ease of use.
3) Mods. What mods do you suggest?
Thank you,
Need to SIM unlock a Galaxy S6
I purchased my phone (Samsung Galaxy S6) from Best Buy to be used with AT&T. This was after 2 AT&T employees and a Best Buy employee told me that getting the unlock code is very easy and straightforward. I have been to the web site to request unlock codes twice. Both times failed. After that I called and they told me, effectively, that my phone is too new. Due to this they require 6 months of paid service before they will consider unlocking it. I am due to leave the country in 4 months. I need to get this phone unlocked... Can anyone tell me how to proceed?
P.S. I am a computer programmer with a lot of experience. I already have the phone in developer mode with the ADB activated. I have the android developers toolkit installed and ready to go. I mention this just so anyone responding will have some idea of the technical level they can use when replying.
AbsaLootly said:
I purchased my phone (Samsung Galaxy S6) from Best Buy to be used with AT&T. This was after 2 AT&T employees and a Best Buy employee told me that getting the unlock code is very easy and straightforward. I have been to the web site to request unlock codes twice. Both times failed. After that I called and they told me, effectively, that my phone is too new. Due to this they require 6 months of paid service before they will consider unlocking it. I am due to leave the country in 4 months. I need to get this phone unlocked... Can anyone tell me how to proceed?
P.S. I am a computer programmer with a lot of experience. I already have the phone in developer mode with the ADB activated. I have the android developers toolkit installed and ready to go. I mention this just so anyone responding will have some idea of the technical level they can use when replying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you will get, eventually, from ATT is a carrier unlock code that will allow you to use foreign carrier sim cards for service. This is not a bootloader unlock.
AbsaLootly said:
I purchased my phone (Samsung Galaxy S6) from Best Buy to be used with AT&T. This was after 2 AT&T employees and a Best Buy employee told me that getting the unlock code is very easy and straightforward. I have been to the web site to request unlock codes twice. Both times failed. After that I called and they told me, effectively, that my phone is too new. Due to this they require 6 months of paid service before they will consider unlocking it. I am due to leave the country in 4 months. I need to get this phone unlocked... Can anyone tell me how to proceed?
P.S. I am a computer programmer with a lot of experience. I already have the phone in developer mode with the ADB activated. I have the android developers toolkit installed and ready to go. I mention this just so anyone responding will have some idea of the technical level they can use when replying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. This is a SIM Unlock, not a bootloader unlock. This will let you use your phone with other supported carriers, not unlock your bootloader.
2. If this is your intention, however, AT&T will only unlock the phone if you've completed your contract obligations with the line your phone is tied to. If you're under contract, you can't get it fully unlocked. However, if you tell them you need it internationally unlocked, they should be able to give you a different unlock code to get that to work. Try giving CS a ring and explain you need it unlocked for abroad, not for the US.
I have been trying the official routes to do the unlock
dandrumheller said:
What you will get, eventually, from ATT is a carrier unlock code that will allow you to use foreign carrier sim cards for service. This is not a bootloader unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried the official routes (web site and phone) and been denied. They basically told me that while I own the phone, and owe them no money of any kind, the phone is too new. They are demanding 6 months of paid service to release the phone that I already own!
Unlock 5 minute 4K recording (Docomo Galaxy S6)
Just bought me the shiny new S6 and love everything about it except one thing; the 5 minute limit to 4K recording. Are there any apps that will let me record for longer durations, or is there a mod out there I need to use?
Thanks in advance.
Japan Jay said:
Just bought me the shiny new S6 and love everything about it except one thing; the 5 minute limit to 4K recording. Are there any apps that will let me record for longer durations, or is there a mod out there I need to use?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any chance that you could download the QCN files from your phone so that I could use it in mine? That would really be awesome for me.
I have a Note 4, international.......not working good in Japan.
HTC One M8 on Verizon. Android version 5.0.1. I did a lot of research yesterday, and could not find any working solution to root the phone. It's hard to find anything on Google because generally the information will be outdated (from last year or the year before). So can someone fill me in on what exactly I'd need to do? This is my first smartphone and I've never rooted an Android device before.
ziddy5 said:
HTC One M8 on Verizon. Android version 5.0.1. I did a lot of research yesterday, and could not find any working solution to root the phone. It's hard to find anything on Google because generally the information will be outdated (from last year or the year before). So can someone fill me in on what exactly I'd need to do? This is my first smartphone and I've never rooted an Android device before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are still S-On and locked then you are stuck without root for now.
BladeRunner said:
Assuming you are still S-On and locked then you are stuck without root for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I was afraid of. How can I keep track of when there is an update to the situation?
ziddy5 said:
This is what I was afraid of. How can I keep track of when there is an update to the situation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
keep checking these forums and/or follow @teamandIRC on twitter
Rooting the already updated HTC One M8
It's going to be difficult. I've been scouring the webs for weeks looking for the answer to that one. The Sunshine S-off didn't work for me. The only way I can find right now to do this requires finding somone that has purchaced the elusive "HTC java card" sometimes called the HTC S-off card. They can s-off your phone in a heartbeat. Wish I had one, I just can't see forking over 375.00 to get one.
So if your S-off there is a root method available ? I haven't found it if there is.
I'm running 5.0.1 Verizon S-off
Thanks in advance
jjmstang said:
So if your S-off there is a root method available ? I haven't found it if there is.
I'm running 5.0.1 Verizon S-off
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're already s-off then just install twrp and flash, reboot recovery and it should ask you if you want to install root
BladeRunner said:
If you're already s-off then just install twrp and flash, reboot recovery and it should ask you if you want to install root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems you have to be rooted to install TWRP........at least what found
You only have to be rooted to install it with their app. If you are s-off you can download it from their site and flash it with fastboot.
mpappas87 said:
You only have to be rooted to install it with their app. If you are s-off you can download it from their site and flash it with fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed this method and I have re-gained root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...ow-to-root-ota-pc-s-off-t3048604#post59750567
Now I'm going to try and flash the Dragon ROM with Sense 7
Thanks again for the help
same boat ; old filmware?
just received this HTC One M8 thru verizon, lollipop 5.0.1 after day 2 OTA update. I've been rooting every device i've owned since 08. Busy with daily tasks I haven't had a chance to sit and try unlocking bootloader until this weekend. I hit a wall when HTCdev returned an error after entering the identifier token \(^~^)/ . I did some reading, couldn't find anything.
I'm coming from a xt912 I've pretty much squeezed all I can get out of it since I got that brand new. I put CM12 on that just recently this HTC makes that the moto seem primitive. After bricking that (moto)spyder a few times flashing bad zips or doing things out of sequence I've put it thru the ringer and used RSDlite to just start from scratch. I have also found these device can put up with a lot and still bounce back. Geeze, I have three years of continuous text and data backed up on SD, lol . Something I haven't tried and wonder, does anyone know, is there any old VZW filmware for this M8 maybe 4.4.2 and try un locking from that point or Does the token id stay the same no matter what filmware?
Htcdev won't work on our phone because it's blocked by Verizon. Also, it's not possible to downgrade firmware or the OS without having s-off. At this time there's no way to get s-off on lollipop so you're pretty much stuck where you're at until an exploit is found by someone. Sunshine works for anything up to 4.4.4 but it won't work on a Verizon phone that's running 5.0.1. About all you can do right now is wait to see if Jcase and Beaups come up with a way to make it work on a Verizon phone too. I know that's not what you want to hear but that's how it is at the moment.
benjdevel said:
I've been rooting every device i've owned since 08. weekend. I hit a wall
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, glad I didn't spend too much time trying to figure this out, never rooted a device before
Gotcha . ...Stupid vzw ? I glanced at a procedure to unlock SIM. Have no idea if that would help anything. Havent tried it. Ill have to keep a watch out for something. Really compaired to that spider this thing is like a ferrari. Not too much bloatware. Lollipop rocks and knowing Im up to date for the most part calms me a little. I still dont like the idea of not having complete control of my device. I've already received a few notification marketing related from verizon that i could not close unless i looked at it. I did notice control over saving things to my ext sd i do like. I am a student just getting into the ist world.wish there was something i could help with. 5 classes is killing me at the moment though. I did also try to install an imsi catcher apk updates version and it seemed like it ran fine. I could of swore that app needed root access. I could be wrong with the newest version though.
Joint Java Card?
Same boat (Verizon, htc one m8) . . . For some reason I was thinking Lollipop was the update which was still able to be handled by Weaksauce 2. So I accepted the OTA, without thinking. -hadn't gotten around to s-off, etc., before this time around.
So, in some 2013 posts, I saw that some people had tried to pool resources and share a Java Card, etc. But sending phones to a "card keeper", is expensive, and unsafe (besides having to live without your phone for a few days.). jcase, on their company's IRC support channel, indicates that the card is more than just a simple microSD card, which one might be able to dd a filesystem image from (i.e. copy it for distribution). That's entirely possible, since all SD cards have micro-controllers for dealing with failed sectors, etc (check out "Bunnie's Blog"). Basically, the controller could make it tough/impossible to access part of the card, and can take care of decrimenting credits, encryption, signing, etc. Even if it were a basic SD card, the use of signed binaries, and external license/resource server, etc. could still make it tough . . . -although the card I found states it needs no internet connection. It would be much cheaper to send the card, rather than phones. But how to coordinate and pool the cost seems like it could be a pain?
So here's what I'm thinking about:
Someone (me?) could purchase a legit, new htc Java Card. After I use my 2 or 3 credits to s-off/unlock my phone, I could put the card on, say, ebay for maybe $5 less than what I bought it for. Then, another person could use some credits, then sell it again, for a little cheaper, etc. If we want to keep it "in-house", we could just send to each other and pay with PayPal or Google Wallet. But, with e-bay, one could just copy/build on the ad the first person started. Take a picture of your phone's screen, when the remaining credits are shown, and put it on the ad. With 2000 credits, my conservative estimate is that it could cost less than 72 cents, for each unlock. The $5 incremental discount might be close enough to cover re-shipping costs.
The Sunshine guys have, for free, helped many of us over the years. So I was planning to purchase their solution, if it worked for this situation. But their download page states that "Verizon 5.0.x users will have to wait until we update.". They indicate they could get us supported soon, but they also indicate that Lollipop is much more secure, with SELinux updated and better enforced., etc. So I am a little concerned about when that will actually happen. I see they've been posting updates for Motorola, and making sure people are able to pay them via PayPal, etc. But nothing yet for Verizon 5.0.x.
Does anyone know/recall how long after the last android update, someone came up with a root exploit? I'm just trying to get a rough guesstimate about the minimum time people will have to wait this time. -then add time because Lollipop is apparently significantly more secure. I guess I don't completely mind that my phone might be secure enough to not make it tougher for someone to get into the deepest parts of it, without specialized hardware (Java Card), if I were to lose it.
But, really, what Verizon and htc and others have done to these devices . . . They are, essentially, specialized computers. It would be like if Dell or another computer manufacturer sold you a computer, without allowing you access to your administrator account (and no clear/easy way to boot from another drive, to recover/fix things, etc.). That's crap.
I dunno. What do people think? I suppose I could just try it, and see.
Are new devices updated already? If I were to get a phone from verizon today will it already have the Lollipop update or would I get a still root-able device that I can deny the update?
libredroid said:
But, really, what Verizon and htc and others have done to these devices . . . They are, essentially, specialized computers. It would be like if Dell or another computer manufacturer sold you a computer, without allowing you access to your administrator account (and no clear/easy way to boot from another drive, to recover/fix things, etc.). That's crap.
I dunno. What do people think? I suppose I could just try it, and see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the idea of that Java card:good: and I completely agree with you on how wrong it is restricting administrative rights, especially considering these things are comparable to a new computer.
dimsumx said:
Are new devices updated already? If I were to get a phone from verizon today will it already have the Lollipop update or would I get a still root-able device that I can deny the update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No guarantees either way.
What is the status on SunShine for our device?
I got the Java Card.
@vazersecurity: still "Verizon 5.0.x users will have to wait until we update.", as of today.
I got the card, as previously proposed, and was able to get S-Off on my USA-Verizon HTC One M8 with the Lollipop OTA.
I needed to download and place two files in the root of the card (now done).
I then (CID changed) was able to use htcdev.com to unlock my bootloader, and ultimately gain root. I'm now happily running a current Cyanogenmod ROM. To regain some functionality from my camera, etc., I installed the htc camera, HTC Gallery, and Zoe apps from the Play store.
So I've already created a listing for the card on eBay. I assume the forum rules won't allow me to post the link. But I, honestly, always intended to use that as a way to make it more convenient to share with a community of people who wish to join in. -not to try and make any money off the card. Again, rather than have people ship phones to one person (with the shipping cost, and being without their phone), if figured it would be cheaper, and less disruptive, to ship the actual card. So, you'd purchase the card from the previous user, then re-list it for a bit less than what you paid for it. With the starting cost and credits, S-Off is about 30 cents, each. As the card credits get used up, it gets cheaper. Maybe each person would end up paying a few dollars for S-Off, when you factor in the shipping.
Maybe a moderator could chime in about whether it might be OK to post a link to this "community-intended" listing. -or suggest a better contribution/distribution method.
Also, since many users in our situations have been out of luck regarding S-Off, for a few months now, might a moderator or someone suggest/implement a way to post/place this information more prominently, in the forums?
Thanks.